Combined letter-scale and coin-tester



(No Model.)

B. O. PURNELL E.

COMBINED LETTER SGALE AND COIN TESTER. No. 292,763. Patented Jan. 29, 1884.

@ez' an 1 mmullllmn UNITED STATES Pairniwr trier.

EDWVARD C. PURNELLE, OF SENECA, KANSAS.

COMBINED LETTER-SCALE AND COIN-TESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 292,763, dated January 29, 1884-.

Application filed July 18, 1883. .(No. model.) I

To a, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. PURNELLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seneca, in the county of Nemaha and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Letter-Scales and Coin-Testers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the ac company ing drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a letter-scale and coin-tester constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the coinholding portion of the scale-beam.

Like letters refer to like parts in both figures.

A represents the base, and B the pedestal, either or both of which may be made of metal or glass, and in any design, according to the taste of the manufacturer. The pedestal is slotted or notched at its upper end to receive the beam 0, and a transverse slot or groove, 1), is formed for the reception and support of the knife-edged trunnions c of the beam. The beam is graduated to ounces and fractions of ounces, and also bears indicating-marks so located relative to the trunnions as to balance the weight of silver coins of the Various denominations when one of such coins is in its proper place (slot 0 in the coin portion of the beam, and when the weight D is at the proper one of said indicating-marks, as clearly indicated in the drawings. The coin portion of the beam is provided with circular depressions or cups 0, each adapted to receive one denomination of gold coin, and within said cups are slots 0 of a width equal to the coin which fits each of said cups, whereby any lacking in diameter or thickness of any coin placed therein is immediately detected, while a lack of weight in any such coin is indicated by the depression of the opposite portion of the beam when the weight D is at O. This latter result is accomplished in spacing the cups, or, in other words, locating them at such distances from each other that when the weight D is at O and a coin of gold is in its proper cup the beam is exactly balanced. At in the connecting-strip of two of the coin-cups is a slot, in which silver coin is placed edgewise, when its weight is to be tested by moving the weight D to the proper indicating-mark on the beam.

At 0 and upon the under side of the cointesting portion of the beam is a hook or other suitable device, upon which is placed a yoke,

E, of wire or other suitable material, to either end of which are secured coiled springs e, each of which is provided with two independent hooks or grapples, e 0, these parts constitut ing the means employed for weighing letters and other mailable matter.

By the expansion of the springs 0 when under strain, the grapples c are adapted to be placed in contact with articles of varied size, so as to automatically and firmly grasp and hold the same while being weighed.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim is- 1. The combination of the beam 0, provided with silver-coin weight-gradnations and goldcoin receptacles, spaced as described, and the weight D, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the beam 0, provided with the hook c, the yoke E, coiled springs 19, and grapples c, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I at'fix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDXVARD C. ITTRNELLE. 

